Transcript Factors that contribute to effective research in an engineering department Gavin van Winsen, Jan-Harm C Pretorius, Leon Pretorius.

Factors that contribute to effective research in an
engineering department
Gavin van Winsen, Jan-Harm C Pretorius, Leon Pretorius
Background
Rand Afrikaans University – Engineering
• 1980 before - Science Faculty
• 1993 – 1997; 507 research papers, 92 master’s degrees and 31
doctoral degrees
• From 1980 to 2004, the Engineering Faculty awarded a total of
420 master’s and 85 doctoral degrees
Electrical and Electronic Department (1990 to 2002)
• 8 – 10 full-time lecturers
• 693 research publications were published
• 80 publications were published in IEEE journals
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The aim of this article
• To explore those factors that help improve employee performance
in a research-type organization
• More specifically, the end goal is to apply known attributes that
lead to successful research and a survey
• The survey is used to obtain the current status and the
importance of these attributes in an engineering department from
a research personnel member’s opinion.
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Fourth Generation Research and
Development
• Fourth generation R&D explanation
• Evolution from third generation R&D practice
• Tacit and explicit knowledge
• Continuous and discontinuous innovation
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Assessing the effectiveness of a researchtype department
Information quality can be measured according to the following
broad dimensions:

Intrinsic Quality: quality in its own right
the extent to which data values are in conformance with true or actual values

Contextual Quality: quality within context
the extent to which data is relevant, applicable or pertinent to the task of the
user

Representational Quality: clear presentation
the extent to which data is presented in an intelligible and clear manner

Accessibility Quality: quality of access
the extent to which data is available or obtainable
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Best return on investment for universitybased research
The following is deemed important
Support based on the quality of ideas and performance
Continuity of support
A good understanding by sponsors of how science and
technology work
Minimal bureaucratic responsibility and paperwork
Full coverage of the real and appropriate cost of research
Recognition of the dual role of research and education
A sense of accountability on the part of the investigator
Flexibility to "change course" when appropriate
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Case study – DOE (US)
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Results of a survey RAU
Representation of the
quantitative findings,
displaying the current
status, and the
importance of, and
need for, improvement.
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The following attributes are highlighted as
being below average with regard to current
status
• Quality of colleagues
• Rewards for merit
• Competitive salaries and benefits
• Adequate time to do research and stay current
• Effective external reviews
• Efficient laboratory services
• Integrated and relevant R&D portfolio
• Good projection planning and execution
• Appropriateness of laboratory’s measure of success
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The following attributes are highlighted as
being good with regard to current status
• Autonomy in scientific management
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Results Cont
The following attribute is highlighted as being essential for
improvement – that is, its current status is below average and it is
considered of very high importance, namely:
•Quality of colleagues
•Adequate time to do research and stay current
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Statistical analysis
• Regarding participant trends, it was found that there was a close
correlation, except for two instances, between a participant’s
rating for each attribute’s current status and that attribute’s
importance
• It was found that if participants gave (for example) an average
rating for a question, they would probably give a rating of high
importance for that question
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Statistical analysis
(Regarding the means for each attribute)
• Attribute 36 (Appropriateness of laboratory’s measures of
success) has the lowest value with regard to current status
• Attribute 12 (Autonomy in scientific management) has the highest
value with regard to current status
• Attribute 17 (Effective external reviews) has the lowest value with
regard to importance
• Attribute 2 (Quality of colleagues) has the highest value with
regard to importance
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Statistical analysis
(Regarding the variance obtained )
• The opinion distribution was least spread out for attribute 2
(Quality of colleagues), with respect to current status and
importance
• There appears to be the greatest opinion distribution spread for
attribute 33 (Strong foundation of basic research) with respect to
current status and attribute 17 (Effective external reviews) with
respect to importance
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Conclusion
Research – NB
It is seen as important for good research to have time to stay
current in one’s chosen research field
To encourage interaction between and among different
disciplines (Labs for Electrical / Electrical / Mechanical)
These two things will not happen if no investment in terms of
time and financial resources are set aside for them to happen